Morocco’s Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan presided over the opening session for new members of the Academy of the Kingdom of Morocco on Wednesday in Morocco’s capital Rabat marking the start of the first session of the prestigious institution after its restructuring
Founded by Royal Dahir in October, 1977, the Academy is an exclusive multidisciplinary, public institution with appointed, life-time members of various nationalities, whose mission is to spearhead Morocco’s intellectual, scientific and cultural evolution through research and dialogue. It has 60 members, 30 Resident Members of Moroccan nationality and 30 Associate Members of other nationalities, as well as Honorary Members.
After greeting the Crown Prince upon his arrival at the Academy’s headquarters in Rabat, the Academy’s permanent secretary Abdeljalil Lahjomri read a statement by King Mohammed VI.
The Academy has emerged as a “beacon of cross-continental thinking and study, as well as a venue for polishing intellectual, academic, and scientific abilities in all fields of the humanities and social sciences,” he stated.
Especially after its restructuring, the Academy has “contributed to the advancement and enrichment of study while emphasizing the historical and cultural richness that Morocco has acquired throughout the years,” stated the king.
The goal was to align the Academy “with the Kingdom’s Constitution, which aspires to safeguard our national identity, with its Arab-Islamic, Amazigh, and Hassani components, as well as its African, Andalusian, Hebrew, and Mediterranean components,” he added.
The King also welcomed and congratulated the new members on their appointment to the institution, expressing his hope that they would contribute to the Academy’s impact on scholarship and learning, allowing it to “continue to fulfill its development mission and enlightenment role.”
Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan met with Mohamed Yacoubi, the Wali of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region; Rachid El Abdi, President of the Regional Council; the Academy’s executive director, Bachir Tamer; the Academy’s deputy permanent secretary, Mohamed Kettani; as well as the Academy’s Chair of Sessions Rahma Bourqia; and the Academy’s Rapporteur Mustapha Zebakh.